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The St Catherine-based G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport and Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, in St James, have forged an alliance to change the way physical education courses are taught in Jamaica, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), yesterday.

The MOU signing between the two tertiary-level institutions was done at the Montego Bay campus of the Sam Sharpe Teachers' College. The plan will see both institutions sharing a set of new programmes as well as faculty in a bid to bolster sport-fitness courses both at the academic and physical levels.

"This partnership is something that we feel will encourage enrolment and young people to recognise that sports is a business," said David Mais,, chairman of G.C .Foster.

"The students who are being enrolled are coming in with their high standard of high school education, will see sport as the opportunity it is. So the way forward is to find ways to fully utilise our facilities at G.C. Foster and Sam Sharpe Teachers College," added Mais.

The 45-hour short courses to be offered at the start of the new school year at both institutions will include sports massages, fitness instruction, programme writing, and recreation, among other areas. The courses will be done throughout the work week or on the weekends.

The institutions, however, will, over time, introduce a number of advanced programmes to include bachelor degrees.

"Initially, it is going to be the academic side because we have to make a start, but the possibilities are endless," said Norman Reid, chairman of Sam Sharpe Teachers' College.

CONSTANT UPGRADING

"Of course, there will be a constant upgrading of the teaching certification, particularly for those teachers who were trained, years ago and who are working in the primary-school system. Some of them are still diploma trained and they now have the possibility of getting certification at the first-degree level here at Sam Sharpe," added Reid.

Reid further noted that sports in western Jamaica is changing, which is evident in the activities going on at Rusea's High in Hanover and Petersfield High School in Westmoreland. He said this partnership would open up the doors for the west to become a powerhouse in sports once again.

"So this is what we want to do. We want to start at the academic side, where we upgrade our coaching staff, we focus on sports medicine, the other sports not getting attention, and we bind everything together so that the west becomes really dynamic in sports," added Reid.

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The St Catherine-based G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport and Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, in St James, have forged an alliance to change the way physical education courses are taught in Jamaica, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), yesterday.

The MOU signing between the two tertiary-level institutions was done at the Montego Bay campus of the Sam Sharpe Teachers' College. The plan will see both institutions sharing a set of new programmes as well as faculty in a bid to bolster sport-fitness courses both at the academic and physical levels.

"This partnership is something that we feel will encourage enrolment and young people to recognise that sports is a business," said David Mais,, chairman of G.C .Foster.

"The students who are being enrolled are coming in with their high standard of high school education, will see sport as the opportunity it is. So the way forward is to find ways to fully utilise our facilities at G.C. Foster and Sam Sharpe Teachers College," added Mais.

The 45-hour short courses to be offered at the start of the new school year at both institutions will include sports massages, fitness instruction, programme writing, and recreation, among other areas. The courses will be done throughout the work week or on the weekends.

The institutions, however, will, over time, introduce a number of advanced programmes to include bachelor degrees.

"Initially, it is going to be the academic side because we have to make a start, but the possibilities are endless," said Norman Reid, chairman of Sam Sharpe Teachers' College.

CONSTANT UPGRADING

"Of course, there will be a constant upgrading of the teaching certification, particularly for those teachers who were trained, years ago and who are working in the primary-school system. Some of them are still diploma trained and they now have the possibility of getting certification at the first-degree level here at Sam Sharpe," added Reid.

Reid further noted that sports in western Jamaica is changing, which is evident in the activities going on at Rusea's High in Hanover and Petersfield High School in Westmoreland. He said this partnership would open up the doors for the west to become a powerhouse in sports once again.

"So this is what we want to do. We want to start at the academic side, where we upgrade our coaching staff, we focus on sports medicine, the other sports not getting attention, and we bind everything together so that the west becomes really dynamic in sports," added Reid.

On June 9, 2018, the G.C. Foster College Library received a donation of books from Dr. Peter Latchman, a past student of the College.Dr. Latchman, presently a professor at Southern Connecticut State University, expressed his appreciation to the College by donating a large collection of books from several different subject areas from his personal library.The G.C. Foster College appreciates this gift and welcomes other past students and organizations to support the College through this and other initiatives.

NEW YORK – Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) has donated US $10K to the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport.

The presentation was made during the opening ceremony of the recently held Jamaica Invitational held at the National Stadium to Acting Principal and Coach, Maurice Wilson by CEO & Founder of TJB, Irwine Clare, Snr., and New York based businessman, Michael Duncan, an ardent sponsor and supporter of the organization.

For close to two decades TJB has supported G.C. Foster, donating (now) over US $100K to the institution.

“The organization believes that a strong foundation is essential to the development of sport in the country and that investing in training coaches to lead the country’s cadre of student athletes is one step in that direction,” said Clare.

Speaking to the donation, Principal Wilson said that the members of the G.C. Foster College Community were “extremely appreciative and grateful for the support given by TJB,” adding that the donation will be used to sponsor scholarships for elite athletes who are unable to afford a college education.

“The relationship goes back many years when the organization first sponsored the team’s accommodation at the Penn Relays. Rasheed Dwyer Jamaica’s 4th fastest athlete at 200m and 2014 200m Commonwealth Champion was one of the many athletes to benefit from TJB’s generosity. This donation will help to off-set costs of over 30 million dollars per year. The institution has many needs; the greatest of which at this time is a scholarship fund. We are also completing our High Performance Centre which still requires some equipment. The TJB organization has continued to touch the lives of many Jamaicans from all social classes,” said Wilson.

THOMPSON… rebounded from her fall at the Jamaica International Invitational meet last week to capture the 100m hurdles in 13.49 seconds

Former Calabar High School star Michael O'Hara made an inauspicious seasonal debut on an evening when heavy winds made a mockery of most of the times at the third JAAA All-Comers meet at National Stadium on Saturday.

O'Hara, who starred at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships where he left with four gold medals in 2015, clocked a pedestrian 22.12 seconds (-1.2 mps) and was fifth of the five runners in heat four of the men's 200m.

Now at Racers Track Club, O'Hara looked a shadow of the athlete that ran 20.63 seconds and won gold at the 2013 World Youth Championships in the 200m.

The race was won by Racers' rising star Miguel Francis of Great Britain in 20.87 seconds. National 400m record holder Rusheen McDonald of MVP was second in 21.24 seconds, with former Jamaica College runner Devaughn Baker, now at the University of Technology, finishing third with 21.63 seconds.

Not much has been seen of the super-talented 21-year-old O'Hara, who has personal bests of 10.19 seconds for the 100m and 20.45 seconds for the 200m.

MVP's Nesta Carter, who won bronze in the 100m at the 2013 World Championships, was third in heat three of the 200m in 21.77 seconds (-1.8 mps). Tyquendo Tracey with 21.39 seconds won the event ahead of Sprintec's Collin King with 21.68 seconds.

Meanwhile, Senoj-Jay Givans of Racers won the men's 100m in 10.44 seconds (-2.9 mps) ahead of his teammate Kenroy Anderson, who was credited with the same time. MVP's Julian Forte was just behind in third with 10.45 seconds.

Kemar Bailey-Cole made a return to the track and was fourth in his heat in 10.93 seconds (-1.6 mps), while Romario Williams of G C Foster won in 10.70 seconds ahead of Emmanuel Archibald with 10.79 seconds.

Fitzroy Dunkley, running unattached, was quickest in the men's 400m with 46.88 seconds from heat one ahead of Peter Mathews of Akan Track Club in 47.64 seconds. The promising high school star Antonio Watson of Petersfield High was second-fastest in 47.55 seconds, winning heat two.

Commonwealth Games 100m bronze medallist Gayon Evans of Sprintec was fastest in the women's 100m in 11.00 seconds (-3.2 mps), while Jodean Williams, running unattached, won the women's 200m in 23.96 seconds (-2.6 mps) ahead of Natasha Morrison of Sprintec in 24.42 seconds.

The powerful Ronda White, also of Sprintec, won the women's 400m in 52.92 seconds ahead of St Elizabeth Technical High School girl Stacey Williams with 53.37 seconds. MVP's Daniel Dowie was third in 53.59 seconds ahead of the 2016 World Junior bronze medallist Junelle Bromfield in 54.01 seconds. Dawnalee Lonely, who switched camp from Cameron Blazers to Quality Performance Centre, took heat two in 54.61 seconds, which was the fifth-best time.

The resilient Yanique Thompson of Sprintec rebounded from her fall at the Jamaica International Invitational meet last week and captured the women's 100m hurdles in 13.49 seconds (-4.8 mps). The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist got the better of the promising Britany Anderson in 13.78 seconds.

In 2017 Anderson ran 12.72 seconds, the fastest-ever 100m hurdles time by an Under-18 athlete, in winning the final at the World Youth Championships in Kenya, but was aided by a 4.1m/s wind, which means Thompson's 12.94 seconds established in 2013 remains the Under-18 world best.

Jamaica's top shot putter, O'Dayne Richards of MVP threw 20.60m and easily won the men's event. The 2014 Commonwealth Games champion and the 2015 World Championships bronze medallist had throws of 19.96m, 20.60m, 19.94m, 19.51m and 20.16m and was never challenged, as Xavier Blackwood finished second with 16.10m.

Jamaica’s Demish Gaye (second right) runs to win the men’s 400m in 45.08 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet at National Stadium on Saturday. American Matthew Hudson-Smith (left) was fourth in 45.70.

Young Jamaican prodigy Christopher Taylor stole the spotlight at the 15th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) Meet, which produced three records, a world-leading performance, and five Jamaican wins inside National Stadium on Saturday.

Taylor, along with Elaine Thompson, Janieve Russell, Shericka Jackson and Demish Gaye, provided locals with a lot to cheer about.

American Anna Price broke the hammer throw record with a world-leading 76.27m. Nigeria's Eses Brume leapt 6.82m for the women's long jump record, and Jamal Wilson of The Bahamas soared to 2.28 and equalled the men's high jump record on an evening interspersed with rain.

But what must be the performance of the meet, especially from a Jamaican perspective, Taylor, the Calabar High School 18-year-old star, upstaged Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt and the 2015 World Championships 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa and brought the house down.

In front of a relatively small gathering, fans witnessed the coming of age of Taylor who, running blind from lane seven with no one in lane eight, was never headed and actually was going away at the end for a most facile victory, which ignited the crowd.

Taylor clocked 20.49 seconds with both Merritt and Jobodwana second and third with identical 20.72-seconds finishes with American Marqueze Washington back in fourth in 20.82 seconds.

Taylor, sporting a bright orange and black outfit, left the blocks quickly and was challenged by Jobodwana off the curve, but he responded well to send the stadium into ecstasy.

“It's a great feeling. It's a motivation for me going forward seeing that I am just 18 and I was in there with the big boys and I came out victorious; and this just a big motivation for me going into the World Juniors,” beamed Taylor.

“It wasn't difficult running from lane seven, as I asked coach if he could get me lane seven so I wouldn't have much corner to run, and I just came out and executed,” he explained.

Despite not dipping below his personal best of 20.35 seconds, Taylor said he was not disappointed. “The rain was earlier today so I came out and executed and did my best.”

The veteran Merritt, who has a personal best of 19.74 seconds, interrupted Taylor's interview to congratulate the young Jamaican prodigy.

“He is a great competitor. I have seen him run some 400s and I knew he was ready to come run the 200…and I congratulate him,” said Merritt.

He added: “I had some stuff going on with my body and I was probably the person off the curve, but I kept my form and I just wanted to finish up the race strong and that's what I did.”

Meanwhile, American Anna Price won the women's hammer throw in a meet record 76.27m, which is the best in the world this year. Her compatriot Gwen Berry, who held the old record of 73.83 since 2016, was second with 71.32m. Amanda Bingson completed the American sweep with 69.89m.

Nigeria's Ese Brume won the women's long jump in a record 6.82m, which is the fifth-best in the world. The previous mark was 6.61m held by American Brittney Reese since 2009.

The third record was established by Jamal Wilson of The Bahamas, who leapt 2.28m and equalled the 13-year-old mark of Adam Shunk of the USA. It's the 15th-best jump in the world.

And the ever-improving Shericka Jackson won the 200m in 22.55 seconds (0.4 mps) as she powered away from Nigeria's world leader Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who was second in 22.66 seconds. American Phyllis Francis was third in 22.76 seconds.

Jackson, the 2016 Olympic 400m bronze medallist, who has some fast times of 22.18, 22.28 and 22.36 this season, said she was satisfied with her performance.

“The first 100m wasn't so good but then I had another 100m to go and I am a quarter-miler, so all I had to do was run home strongly and I did that and I got the win,” said Jackson.

Jamaica's double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson won the women's international 100m in 11.06 seconds (-0.3 mps) in a clean sweep by the Jamaicans. Kerron Stewart was second in 11.25 seconds with Natasha Morrison third in 11.26 seconds.

“I am pleased, but it is still difficult to push from the blocks — but I tried to pick up and push from there. The start is not great now, but I am still working on it,” Thompson revealed.

American Ronnie Baker won the men's 100m in 10.00 (2.0 mps) just ahead of his countryman Mike Rodgers in 10.04 seconds. Jamaica's Tyquendo Tracey was third in 10.14 seconds, just outside his personal best of 10.12 seconds. Nesta Carter was sixth in 10.35 seconds.

Commonwealth Games champion Jenieve Russell easily dispatched the field in the 400m hurdles in 54.26 seconds, which was a whisker outside Lashinda Demus' record of 54.20 seconds done in 2006.

American Ashley Spencer was second in 55.23 seconds, with Jamaica's American-based Leah Nugent third in 55.37 seconds. London World Championships bronze medallist Ristananna Tracey was sixth in 56.38 seconds.

Russell, who achieved her personal best of 53.78 seconds last week, said she is aiming for Melaine Walker's national record of 52.42 seconds set in 2009.

“That's the objective. I want to get the national record and I am going to try this year and if I don't get it, definitely next year. But this year is just being consistent. It doesn't matter if I win, it doesn't matter if I lose — it's just the times and how I execute my race,” said Russell.

TJ Holmes of the US won the men's 400m hurdles in a very good 48.67 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Shawn Rowe, who was second with 49.12 seconds. American great Kerron Clement was third in 49.37 seconds, with Jamaica's Andre Clarke fourth in 49.50 seconds. Jaheel Hyde, who stumbled badly over the last hurdle, faded into fifth with 49.60 seconds.

American Jessica Beard upstaged the Jamaicans in the women's 400m and won in 50.52 seconds ahead of her countrywoman Jaide Stepter with 50.72 seconds. Stephanie-Ann McPherson was the best Jamaican and finished third in 50.82 seconds, after leaving out very late. Chrisann Gordon was fourth with 51.23 seconds.

But it was fitting that a Jamaican closed the show in winning fashion as Demish Gaye pulled the curtains down with a very good 45.08-second clocking in the men's 400m, which was a season's best.

Javon Francis chased him home to second place in 45.35 seconds, with Bralon Taplin of Grenada third with 45.41 seconds. Mathew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain finished fourth in 45.70 seconds and America's Michael Cherry was fifth with 46.20 seconds.

Gaye reversed the placing with Francis from the Commonwealth Games in April, where he was sixth in 45.56 seconds and Francis third with 45.11 seconds.